Hunter Employee Relations Client Services

Hunter Employee Relations guides senior managers through complex employee relations issues. 

'Michael has always shown a strong personal interest in protecting our business interests in a very professional and practical manner. He is easy to work with and has become an essential part of our business.'  Vicki Wilson, HR Manager, Lampson

If you are facing an immediate employee relations issue and need assistance - call me now. Michael 

 

Modern Awards & the National Employment Standards

‘Are we following the Award properly?’

We assist clients with advice across various Modern Awards and the National Employment Standards.

This includes entitlements, various forms of leave, hours of work, wages and classifications.

 

Permanent, Part-time or Casual Employment

‘What are the rules around employing casuals?’

We assist clients to determine the benefits and limitations of using different employment types in their business.

 

Dealing with Difficult Employees

‘I have a real problem with one of my employees….’

We advise employers how to respond to:  

  • Aggressive attitudes and behaviour
  • Under performance
  • Lateness or absenteeism
  • Ignoring instructions, policies or procedures

 

Serious Workplace Problems & Terminations

‘I’m stressing about ending up in Fair Work!’

Guiding the employer response to serious workplace behavioural and attitude concerns with written warnings and/or termination.   

  • Policy and safety breaches
  • Ongoing performance and attitude concerns
  • Bullying, harassment, fighting, theft
  • Alcohol and other drugs

 

Business Restructures & Redundancies

‘We don’t have enough work for our people’

Business restructures and reducing employee numbers present real challenges for employers. How do we select and what Fair Work processes do we need to follow.

 

Flexible Work Arrangements

‘One of my employees wants to work from home.’

Advising employers how to respond to Fair Work based flexible work requests by employees. This can relate to hours of work or working from home.

 

Bullying & Sexual Harassment

Instances of bullying and sexual harassment present unique risks for employers:

  • The complainant/victim can lodge legal action against the employer; and
  • The accused can lodge legal action if terminated.

Hunter Employee Relations will guide the immediate response, the investigation and any disciplinary action.

Sexual Harassment - Prevention & Risk Reduction

We can assist employers to fulfill their legal obligations to minimise the risk of sexual harassment through a comprehensive Respect At Work Policy and/or employee briefings and workshops.

 

Fair Work Commission & Australian Human Rights Commission

‘We’ve received a claim – who can help me?’

  • Unfair Dismissals
  • General Protections
  • Sexual Harassment

Hunter Employee Relations closely guides the employer response and represents employers in proceedings in the Fair Work Commission and the Australian Human Rights Commission. The objective is to resolve the matter with minimal costs and stress.

Michael helped us with a difficult Fair Work General Protections claim. We played hard ball, refused to negotiate, and the ex-employee and their no-win no-fee lawyer walked away with $0 settlement and no Federal Court action. It was very stressful, but Michael was very knowledgeable, showed he cared for our small business and his help was very cost effective. Steve Cornes, Whitebridge Butchery 

 

Workplace Investigations – Professional and Confidential

‘Do I need an independent investigator?’

We conduct professional and independent investigations into:

  • Misconduct & Policy/Safety Breaches 
  • Bullying & Sexual Harassment 
  • Attitude & Performance Issues 
  • Workplace Culture Concerns

 

Enterprise Agreements

‘I want to consolidate all our employees under one Agreement’

Hunter Employees Relations can draft, update, negotiate and lodge your new Fair Work Enterprise Agreement.

  

Employment Contract Templates

‘We need new employment contracts, but I don’t want to pay thousands’

We offer a cost effective 2-part template solution.

  • Part 1 - includes template options for permanent, casual, temporary, Award covered, supervisor, salaried or manager – combined with
  • Part 2 - the Standard Terms and Conditions.
  • Where clients require special additional clauses, we can assist with drafting.

Once purchased current clients receive future updates to Part 1 & 2 at no cost.

 

Wages and Conditions Compliance Audit 

'Are we paying our employees correctly?'

If Australia’s largest retailers and Universities, with lots of HR resources, are making payroll errors and large back payments (and fines) how sure are you that you are paying your people correctly?

Hunter Employee Relations has developed a compliance checklist to conduct a desktop audit with your payroll staff. The audit looks at the relevant Modern Award or Enterprise Agreement, the National Employment Standards as well as whether your employment contracts and current policies are compliant.

 

 Policies & Procedures and Code of Conduct

‘What policies and procedures do I really need?’

Hunter Employee Relations can draft individual policy and procedures tailored to your specific business requirements.

Or clients can utilise the following user-friendly policy templates.

  • Code of Conduct - a comprehensive Code which includes social media and internet access.
  • Respect at Work Policy – a comprehensive policy covering Bullying, Harassment, Sexual Harassment and Discrimination.
  • Flexible Working Arrangements Policy – includes working from home.
  • Leave Policy – includes all NES Leave entitlements.
  • Employee Grievance Policy – provides employees with a way to deal with their workplace grievances
  • Work Health and Safety Policy - suited to a low-risk work environment.

Once purchased current clients will be sent any future updates to any of the documents at no charge.

 

Hunter Employee Relations - Onsite Training

Hunter Employee Relations has developed the following briefing sessions and interactive workshops to comply with the proactive legal requirement to eliminate Sexual Harassment from the workplace.

  • Respect at Work – Bullying & Harassment – Briefing
  • Respect at Work – Bullying & Harassment – Interactive Workshop
  • Respect at Work – Bullying & Harassment – Supervisors & Line Managers Responsibilities

The cost for these items is negotiable based on type, numbers, location.

 

Hunter Employee Relations - Employer Guides

  • Bullying and Harassment Guide
  • Casual Employment Guide
  • Payslips and Pay Records Guide for Small Business
  • Recruitment Guide for Small Business

Available at no cost.

 

Protecting our business interests in a very professional and practical manner

Lampson Australia operates in a heavy industry environment which often provides for some interesting workplace challenges. Michael has guided us through many complex industrial relations and employment law issues since 2008. This has included performance terminations, negotiating several Enterprise Agreements and business restructuring resulting in redundancies.

He has always a shown a strong personal interest in protecting our business interests in a very professional and practical manner. He is easy to work with and has become an essential part of our business.

Vicki Wilson , HR Manager, Lampson (Australia) Pty Ltd

Eight Enterprise Agreements across our Group – the process went very smoothly.

ATB Morton is a vertically integrated construction business with a range of different work environments. We engaged Hunter Employee Relations to develop eight Enterprise Agreements across our diverse group of companies.

Michael’s professional approach and sound knowledge of the legal complexities of the Fair Work Act, ensured the process went very smoothly.

John Dodd , Group Resources Manager, ATB Morton Group of Companies